The Knight, the first character described in the prologue of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, is a veteran of many wars across the world, and is a knight to a lord. He led troops into battle and always won. He was the most noble of all pilgrims, and of the highest social class, but he did not dress gaily. He wore a simple fustian smudged from his battle armor. He brought with him many a fine steed. He was noble, chivalrous, honest, loyal, wise, kind, generous
and humble. Many people revered him as equal to loyalty, due do his battle prowess. If The Knight where alive today, he would mostl likely take up the
occupation of a high ranking general, due to his success and experience in battle and reverence from the people who he surrounds.
Chaucer's Opinion of The Knight
Chaucer thinks very highly of The Knight. Foremost, Chaucer mentions him first in the story, not only due to his high social standing, but because of his noble and knightly qualities, which anyone would love. He mentions that he was " a worthy man, Who, from the moment that he first began To ride about the world, loved chivalry, Truth, honor, freedom and all courtesy." He also says that The Knight's liege-lord's war was full worthy, therefore making The Knight full worthy as well. Chaucer also mentions even though The Knight was "so illustrious, he was very wise."
Physical Description
Unfortunately, Chaucer neglects to mention any physical description of the The Knight. We can only assume, that The Knight, tall and strong in appearance, was the most attractive of the pilgrims. With a knightly haircut and prominent beard. But, to make The Knight seem more humble, Chaucer chose to not mention The Knight's strapping good looks.
A slightly more flamboyant medieval knight
A Jedi Knight
The Knight's Tale, a Somewhat Brief Summary
Long ago in Ancient Greece. The story starts with a duke, Theseus, who ruled the city of Athens. He was riding along when four women knelt before him, weeping. They claimed their husband's, who were fighting for Athens during the siege of Thebes, bodies were returned by the city of Thebes. Theseus, outraged by this, marched towards Thebes to return the husband's body to their respective wives. He found two wounded enemy soldiers named Arcite and Palamon, out of kindness he imprisoned them in a tower for like instead of killing them. One spring morning Palamon peers out his tower window and sees Emelye, Theseus's sister-in-law and falls in love with her. Then Arcite fall in love with her and they dispute over who is more worthy and ultimately decided that they should end quarrel because their point was moot, for neither of them could ever have her. Perotheus, a friend to both Theseus and Arcite petitioned that Theseus release Arcite, Theseus agrees, but for ever banishes Arcite from Athens. Arcite returns to Thebes, jealous of the fact that Palamon can still look at Emelye through his window. While on the other hand Palamon believes Arcite will lay siege to Athens and take Emelye by force.
Sometime later Arcite returns to Athens under disguise, and becomes a page in Emelye's chamber. In the woods one day Arcite finds Palamon who escaped, fighting over who is worthy of Emelye. They decide to duel each other the next day, to prove their worth. Theseus on a hunt, finds the two warriors fighting and Palamon explains the situation. Theseus is about to kill him when the ladies of his court tell him to spare Arcite and Palamon he decides to hold a tournament fifty weeks from that day. Arcite and Palamon are to face each other each with the 100 finest men they can gather. The winner will be awarded Emelye's hand in marriage. Theseus erects an arena for the tournament, surronded by three temples, each honoring a different god, Venus, the goddess of love, Mars the god of war, and Diana the goddess of chastity. Palamon and Arcite arrive with respective armies at their sides. The Sunday before the tournament Palamon goes to the temple of Venus and asks her to provide him victory in the name of love. Arcite the same day goes the temple of Mars and asks him to provide him victory. Emelye goes to the temple of Diana desirous to stay a virgin. Palamon and Arcite face each other and appear to be evenly matched. Arcite see's an opening and strike Palamon and bring him to the stake. Arcite and during his victory lap falls off his horse, due to a tremor caused by Saturn, and dies shortly after. Before Arcite dies he tells Emelye that if she where to marry, that she should marry Palamon, because he is knightly as well. Palamon and Emelye continue mourning as the years pass, dressing in all black. Theseus berates them for grieving too much and tells them they need to accept death. The requests them to cease mourning and for Palamon to take Emelye's hand in marriage. They obey and Emeley and Palamon enjoy a long, loving, and happy marriage.
Long ago in ancient Greece
There was a duke, his name won't cease.
As he was trottin his way to town
There were four ladies having a breakdown.
"Our husbands can't return
Because of Creon's lack of concern."
Duke Theseus couldn't stand this sight
so he would leave to fight.
After the husbands were returned
Theseus' use was abjourned.
He came across two wounded men
Thebian enemies they were to him.
Palamon and Arcite were their names
Taken prisoner Theseus proclaims.
Locked away up in a tower
Nothing to do but sulk and be sour.
Then one day a fair young lady
Was spotted through the window ever so aimlessly.
Emelye was her name
They both fell in love, who can blame?
They began to argue but whats the use
Neither of them could vamoose.
Some time later Arcite is freed
On one condition, he must recede.
Never to enter Athens again
Or his life they would end.
They worried about on another
And who would win her.
They worried about each other
And who would get her.
As Palamon was escaping into the forest
He runs into Arcite barest.
Fearing the other would take Emelye
They begin dueling.
Theseus approaches
And assesses.
"Fifty weeks from today
We shall see who will have the final say."
They gather armies of 100 men
To battle and defend them.
Palamon with the promise of Venus
And Arcite with the help of Mars
Begin their bloody fight
To see who just might
Win Emelye's hand in marriage
And live happy after this voyage.
Arcite is crowned victorious
But a tragic accident doesn't allow this.
With his last words he proclaims his love
And tells her to be with Palamon
For he possesses the knightly qualaties
Worthy of above.
And with this final request
She does not protest.
Emelye and Palamon are wed
And enjoy a long loving relationship it is said.
The Knight
Chaucer's Description
The Knight, the first character described in the prologue of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, is a veteran of many wars across the world, and is a knight to a lord. He led troops into battle and always won. He was the most noble of all pilgrims, and of the highest social class, but he did not dress gaily. He wore a simple fustian smudged from his battle armor. He brought with him many a fine steed. He was noble, chivalrous, honest, loyal, wise, kind, generousand humble. Many people revered him as equal to loyalty, due do his battle prowess. If The Knight where alive today, he would mostl likely take up the
occupation of a high ranking general, due to his success and experience in battle and reverence from the people who he surrounds.
Chaucer's Opinion of The Knight
Chaucer thinks very highly of The Knight. Foremost, Chaucer mentions him first in the story, not only due to his high social standing, but because of his noble and knightly qualities, which anyone would love. He mentions that he was "a worthy man, Who, from the moment that he first began To ride about the world, loved chivalry, Truth, honor, freedom and all courtesy." He also says that The Knight's liege-lord's war was full worthy, therefore making The Knight full worthy as well. Chaucer also mentions even though The Knight was "so illustrious, he was very wise."
Physical Description
Unfortunately, Chaucer neglects to mention any physical description of the The Knight. We can only assume, that The Knight, tall and strong in appearance, was the most attractive of the pilgrims. With a knightly haircut and prominent beard. But, to make The Knight seem more humble, Chaucer chose to not mention The Knight's strapping good looks.The Knight's Tale, a Somewhat Brief Summary
Long ago in Ancient Greece. The story starts with a duke, Theseus, who ruled the city of Athens. He was riding along when four women knelt before him, weeping. They claimed their husband's, who were fighting for Athens during the siege of Thebes, bodies were returned by the city of Thebes. Theseus, outraged by this, marched towards Thebes to return the husband's body to their respective wives. He found two wounded enemy soldiers named Arcite and Palamon, out of kindness he imprisoned them in a tower for like instead of killing them. One spring morning Palamon peers out his tower window and sees Emelye, Theseus's sister-in-law and falls in love with her. Then Arcite fall in love with her and they dispute over who is more worthy and ultimately decided that they should end quarrel because their point was moot, for neither of them could ever have her. Perotheus, a friend to both Theseus and Arcite petitioned that Theseus release Arcite, Theseus agrees, but for ever banishes Arcite from Athens. Arcite returns to Thebes, jealous of the fact that Palamon can still look at Emelye through his window. While on the other hand Palamon believes Arcite will lay siege to Athens and take Emelye by force.Sometime later Arcite returns to Athens under disguise, and becomes a page in Emelye's chamber. In the woods one day Arcite finds Palamon who escaped, fighting over who is worthy of Emelye. They decide to duel each other the next day, to prove their worth. Theseus on a hunt, finds the two warriors fighting and Palamon explains the situation. Theseus is about to kill him when the ladies of his court tell him to spare Arcite and Palamon he decides to hold a tournament fifty weeks from that day. Arcite and Palamon are to face each other each with the 100 finest men they can gather. The winner will be awarded Emelye's hand in marriage. Theseus erects an arena for the tournament, surronded by three temples, each honoring a different god, Venus, the goddess of love, Mars the god of war, and Diana the goddess of chastity. Palamon and Arcite arrive with respective armies at their sides. The Sunday before the tournament Palamon goes to the temple of Venus and asks her to provide him victory in the name of love. Arcite the same day goes the temple of Mars and asks him to provide him victory. Emelye goes to the temple of Diana desirous to stay a virgin. Palamon and Arcite face each other and appear to be evenly matched. Arcite see's an opening and strike Palamon and bring him to the stake. Arcite and during his victory lap falls off his horse, due to a tremor caused by Saturn, and dies shortly after. Before Arcite dies he tells Emelye that if she where to marry, that she should marry Palamon, because he is knightly as well. Palamon and Emelye continue mourning as the years pass, dressing in all black. Theseus berates them for grieving too much and tells them they need to accept death. The requests them to cease mourning and for Palamon to take Emelye's hand in marriage. They obey and Emeley and Palamon enjoy a long, loving, and happy marriage.
Citations
Ackroyd, Peter, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Nick Bantock. The Canterbury Tales. New York, NY: Viking, 2009. Print.http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~chaucer/canttales/woodcuts/woodcuts.htm\
http://www.toymania.com/columns/spotlight/ssmpblackknight.shtml
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Qui-Gon_Jinn
RAP
Long ago in ancient GreeceThere was a duke, his name won't cease.
As he was trottin his way to town
There were four ladies having a breakdown.
"Our husbands can't return
Because of Creon's lack of concern."
Duke Theseus couldn't stand this sight
so he would leave to fight.
After the husbands were returned
Theseus' use was abjourned.
He came across two wounded men
Thebian enemies they were to him.
Palamon and Arcite were their names
Taken prisoner Theseus proclaims.
Locked away up in a tower
Nothing to do but sulk and be sour.
Then one day a fair young lady
Was spotted through the window ever so aimlessly.
Emelye was her name
They both fell in love, who can blame?
They began to argue but whats the use
Neither of them could vamoose.
Some time later Arcite is freed
On one condition, he must recede.
Never to enter Athens again
Or his life they would end.
They worried about on another
And who would win her.
They worried about each other
And who would get her.
As Palamon was escaping into the forest
He runs into Arcite barest.
Fearing the other would take Emelye
They begin dueling.
Theseus approaches
And assesses.
"Fifty weeks from today
We shall see who will have the final say."
They gather armies of 100 men
To battle and defend them.
Palamon with the promise of Venus
And Arcite with the help of Mars
Begin their bloody fight
To see who just might
Win Emelye's hand in marriage
And live happy after this voyage.
Arcite is crowned victorious
But a tragic accident doesn't allow this.
With his last words he proclaims his love
And tells her to be with Palamon
For he possesses the knightly qualaties
Worthy of above.
And with this final request
She does not protest.
Emelye and Palamon are wed
And enjoy a long loving relationship it is said.